New jail uniform proposal fails by 10-1 vote

There will be no change in the gray-and-white striped uniforms worn by county jail prisoners following a vote by Baxter County Quorum Court members on Tuesday.(Photo: Kevin Pieper/The Baxter Bulletin)Buy Photo

Opening its regular monthly meeting Tuesday by addressing the agenda's hottest topic, the Baxter County Quorum Court rejected a proposed ordinance by Justice of the Peace Gary Tennison to change the uniforms worn by prisoners at the county jail by an overwhelming 10-1 vote.

Tennison believes a change in the gray-and-white striped uniforms would help prisoners keep their dignity and aid with reintegration back into society. He added that, because the same uniforms are worn by all prisoners at the Baxter County jail, the nonviolent offenders will start to identify themselves with the violent ones, harming their chances at rehabilitation.

The ordinance targeting jail uniforms set off a storm of comments on social media last week — not only in Baxter County, but also across Arkansas. As of Monday, the story had more than 1,100 shares on The Baxter Bulletin's web page.

The main opponent to the ordinance, Sheriff John Montgomery, has been highly visible since the story went public.

"The ordinance speaks for itself," Tennison said Monday. "If it dies, it dies. I did what I felt I needed to do."

The ordinance primarily focused on the gray-and-white striped pattern of the uniforms and the flip-flops inmates wear on their feet.

It called for the uniforms to be changed from what is termed "obsolete" stripes to solid green scrubs.

The flip-flops would be changed to deck shoes and the inmates would be provided "suitable socks." The changes would be made by July 15, 2015.

An expanded story on the proposed jail ordinance will appear at baxterbulletin.com later tonight following the conclusion of the quorum court meeting at the Baxter County Courthouse.